‘So that he would not eat me’ — Navigating the single self amid shifting cultural grounds. A qualitative study of never-married Polish women's singlehood
‘So that he would not eat me’ — Navigating the single self amid shifting cultural grounds. A qualitative study of never-married Polish women's singlehood
StatusVoR
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Authors
Mrozowicz-Wrońska, Marta
Janowicz, Kamil
Pietrzak, Sebastian
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Date
2026-02-20
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Women's Studies International Forum
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116
Pages
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1-9
ISSN
0277-5395
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Access date
2026-03-04
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
This study explored the experiences of never-married single women in Poland, focusing on their narratives of singlehood and its implications for their well-being and life satisfaction. Employing a phenomenologically informed reflexive thematic analysis, we analyzed semi-structured interviews with 18 women aged between 23 and 43. Five key themes were generated in the analysis: 1) Breaking from Stereotypes and Traditional Gender Roles, particularly the cultural figure of the Polish Mother; 2) Balancing Connectedness and Protecting the Self, highlighting tensions between intimacy and autonomy; 3) Perceptions of Masculinity and Men, characterized by devaluation and skepticism; 4) Analyzing the Single Self, that is, the participants' reflecting on their needs, goals, and barriers in relationships and single life, and engaging in the process of meaning-making to navigate societal pressures and construct positive identities; and 5) Living Solo — Possibilities and Challenges, emphasizing both freedom and self-development opportunities as well as occasional struggles with loneliness and the lack of intimacy. The findings revealed that single women participating in the study actively rejected deficit-oriented perspectives on singlehood, embraced autonomy and self-sufficiency, and navigated both societal pressures and evolving gender norms. This study underscored the complexity of singlehood as a psychological phenomenon deeply intertwined with cultural and gendered contexts.
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Keywords PL
Keywords EN
Single women
Qualitative research
Gender roles
Femininity
Qualitative research
Gender roles
Femininity
Keywords other
Sustainable Development Goals
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